Cathy Wolfheim, from the Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Development Department, presented on the new WHO CHW training materials Nov. 29, 2010. WHO recently completed an extensive package of training materials to support training CHWs to care for the sick child in the community.
The package includes a manual for the CHW, facilitator notes, sick child recording form, photo book, chart booklet, guides for clinical practice and a DVD on identifying signs of illness. The training is part of the larger Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy and prepares community health workers to identify danger signs, refer and treat sick children from age two months up to five years.
Additional new materials on newborn home visits and care for the healthy child complement the sick child package. Healthy child materials currently undergoing testing cover feeding, early childhood development, vaccinations, bednets and handwashing. The presentation also included a discussion of the technical content and materials development process.